Sugar-free alternatives to classic soft drinks seem more popular than ever. Customers are drawn to ‘light’ and ‘diet’ sodas, which taste similar to their original counterparts without kicking you in the teeth. However, Dr Pepper has just recalled 19,000 cases of their beloved soft drinks, and it may be worth checking yours if you enjoy the Zero Sugar versions.
According to a report by People, more than 19,000 cases of Dr Pepper Zero Sugar are being recalled because they do, in fact, contain sugar.
The mislabeled ‘Zero Sugar’ cans reportedly contain 39 grams of sugar like the regular drink. This error is potentially dangerous as well, as some consumers suffer from conditions where they must monitor sugar intake, like diabetes.
The FDA announced a ‘voluntary’ recall of the drinks and revealed more details about the products. They list the reason for the recall as “Product labeled to be Zero Sugar contains full sugar product.” 19,203 cases of Dr Pepper Zero Sugar are affected, and each case contains either 12 or 24 cans. The FDA also lists the cans with product code ‘XXXXRS05165’ and an expiry date of Feb 16, 2026.
The Affected Dr Pepper Drinks Were Distributed To Three States
Per the FDA, The Pepsi Beverages Company sent the cases to three states. Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The recall is Class II, which the FDA explains as ‘a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.’ No other batches or Dr Pepper products are part of the recall.
Soda is big business in the States, and there’s a surprising amount of volatility among the best-sellers. Per Wide Open Country, Coca-Cola is consistently the number one, holding 19.1% of the market share in 2024. Dr Pepper actually climbed to second place, with an 8.3% share. Sprite secured third place and was only slightly behind at 8.03%
If you’re wondering what happened to Pepsi, the drink fell out of the top three with 7.97% of sales. It’s only a 0.03 difference, but it was enough to kick the classic soda off the podium.